Methods, apparatus, and system for controlling access to a local network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling access to a first network, comprising receiving, by a first network access device of the first network, an access request from a visiting user device, determining, by the first network access device, if the visiting user device was granted an access to the first network, if the visiting device has not been granted an access to the first network, determining if there is a second network access device that granted the visiting user device an access to a second network and the second network access device is linked to the first network access device, and if the second network access device exists, granting the visiting user device an access to the first network by the first network access device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling access to a first network, comprising:
 receiving, by a first network access device of the first network, an access request from a first user device; 
 determining, by the first network access device, if the first user device was granted an access to the first network; 
 if the first user device was not granted an access to the first network, determining, if a second network access device linked to the first network access device granted the first user device an access to a second network; and 
 if the second network access device granted access to the first user device, granting the first user device an access to the first network by the first network access device; 
 wherein the second network access device is linked to the first network access device if the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through at least one intermediary network access device; 
 wherein when the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through at least one intermediary network access device, the first user device is granted an access to the first network on a condition that a number n of intermediary network access devices is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication exchanged between said first and second network access devices is a phone call or an electronic mail. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two types of access comprising at least a full access and a restricted access to the first network are defined and the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through n intermediary network access devices, and wherein the first user device is granted a full access to the first network on a condition that n is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N1 and the first user device is granted a restricted access to the first network on a condition that n is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N2, with N1<N2. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first user device is granted an access to the first network on a condition that the second network access device is linked to the first network access device since a predefined time period. 
     
     
       5. A non-transitory program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform program steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       6. A first network access device for controlling access to a first network, comprising:
 a memory storing software; and 
 a processor configured to receive an access request from a first user device; 
 determine if the first user device was granted access to the first network; 
 if the first user device was not granted an access to the first network, the processor being configured to determine if a second network access device linked to the first network access device granted the first user device an access to a second network; 
 if the second network access device granted access to the first user device, the processor being configured to grant the first user device an access to the first network; 
 wherein the second network access device is linked to the first network access device if the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through at least one intermediary network access device; 
 wherein when the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through n intermediary network access devices, the first user device is granted an access to the first network on a condition that n is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N. 
 
     
     
       7. The first network access device according to  claim 6 , wherein the communication exchanged between the first and second network access devices is a phone call or an electronic mail. 
     
     
       8. The first network access device according to  claim 6 , wherein at least two types of access comprising at least a full access and a restricted access to the first network are defined and the second network access device is linked to the first network access device through an intermediary network access device, and wherein the first user device is granted a full access to the first network on a condition that n is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N1 and the first user device is granted a restricted access to the first network on a condition that n is lower than or equal to a predetermined number N2, with N1<N2. 
     
     
       9. The first network access device according to  claim 6 , wherein the first user device is granted an access to the first network on a condition that the second network access device is linked to the first network access device since a predefined time period. 
     
     
       10. A gateway comprising the first network access device according to  claim 6 .